Movable Mirror Control for Hybrid Viewfinder Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image capturing devices face challenges in displaying a smooth and delay-free viewfinder image during continuous shooting, particularly due to the need to manage the movable mirror's position between mirror-down and mirror-up states in conjunction with superimposed display and consecutive photographing modes.
Innovation Solution
The image capturing device employs a movable mirror with a half-mirror configuration, controlled by circuitry to maintain the mirror in a mirror-down position when both superimposed display and consecutive photographing modes are set, preventing rotation to the mirror-up position, thus ensuring continuous and synchronized display of optical and electronic images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the movable mirror rotates to the mirror-up position during continuous shooting, then the image sensor can capture images without obstruction, but the viewfinder display becomes interrupted or delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the movable mirror's position based on the operating mode. In consecutive photographing mode with superimposed display, the mirror is maintained in the mirror-down position to enable continuous viewfinder display. The control circuitry detects the shooting mode and automatically adjusts mirror position, making the system adaptive to different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mirror position parameter based on the combination of shooting mode and display mode. When both consecutive photographing and superimposed display are selected, the mirror position is set to 'down' instead of the conventional 'up' position, fundamentally changing the optical path configuration to prioritize continuous display functionality.
2Reliability
If the movable mirror is maintained in the mirror-down position during continuous shooting, then the viewfinder display remains continuous and smooth, but the optical path for the image sensor is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The half-mirror acts as an intermediary optical element that allows both the optical viewfinder and the image sensor to receive light simultaneously. The half-mirror reflects portion of the incoming light to the viewfinder while transmitting the remainder to the image sensor, enabling both functions to operate concurrently without mutual obstruction.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable mirror is designed with multi-functionality, serving both to direct light to the viewfinder and to allow light transmission to the image sensor. By maintaining the mirror in the down position with half-mirror configuration, the system achieves universal functionality for both continuous display and image capture without requiring separate optical paths.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the movable mirror rotates to the mirror-up position, then the light transmission to the image sensor is optimized, but the superimposed display of optical and electronic images cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between different mirror positions and configurations based on the selected display mode. When superimposed display is required, the mirror remains in the down position with half-mirror configuration. When only electronic display is needed, the mirror can rotate to the up position, providing adaptive light transmission optimization for different operational scenarios.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables a smooth and delay-free viewfinder image display during continuous shooting, enhancing user experience by maintaining the mirror-down position to prevent interruptions and delays in the hybrid viewfinder display.
Implementation Method 1
a movable mirror including a half mirror... (1) a mirror down position in which the mirror is inserted in a photographing optical path and reflects a subject light to a finder optical system and transmits the light to an image sensor
Data Source
AI summary
An image capturing device includes a movable mirror including a half mirror and circuitry to set a superimpose display mode that superimposes and displays an optical image of a finder optical system and an electronic image captured by an image sensor, and a consecutive photographing mode, control the movable mirror to rotate between a mirror-down position, in which the mirror is inserted in a photographing optical path, reflects light to a finder optical system, and transmits the light to an image sensor, and a mirror-up position in which the mirror is retracted from the photographing optical path and the light passes through to the image sensor, and prohibit the movable mirror from rotating to the mirror-up position and maintain the mirror-down position, when the superimpose display mode and the consecutive photographing mode are both set.